Record control for billing machines



April 21, 1936. RQTTER, JR 2,038,381

RECORD CONTROL FOR BILLING MACHINES Filed April 19, 1.932 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. F7254? Po7TE/2 JQ w, M L ATTORNEYS.

April 21, 1936. 'F. POTTER, JR

RECORD CONTROL FOR BILLING MACHINES Filed April 19, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

F250 Pow- J M, M J W.

I ATTORNEYS. i

Patented' Apr. 2 1, 1936 umreo STATES PATENT OFFICE RECORD CONTROL FOR BILLING MACHINES I Fred Potter, In, Elmira, N. rs, assig'nor, by inesne assignments,

to American Sales Book Compa y, Inc a corporationof Delaware N Application April 19, 1932, Serial No. 606,137

' 7 Claims 01. 197-133) This invention relates to improvements in ma- I chines for making records, such as typewriting machines or similar machines, upon a plurality of relatively superposed work webs,.and with relation to some of its-more particular features'the legibility.

,It is a general object of the invention-to pro vide for machines of the class mentioned, an improved record strip controllingand positioning mechanism specially designed for control of strips of the long continuous traveler type and arranged forquick and easy application to machines of existing construction.

A further object of the invention is to provide a record strip controlling mechanism for machines o'fthe'class mentioned having animproved construction and arrangement of frictional strip engaging devices arranged to engage the strips with a constant frictional effort at all times, thus' to exert a most satisfactory restraint on the strips and to maintain them in the best position for the reception of the inscriptions.

Still another object of the invention is to pro- 'vide an improvedfrictional control upon the individual strips of a superposed assembly and having a constant frictional pressure or grip upon the strip'at all times so as to maintain the strips smooth and free from wrinkles and'in correct writing position.

According to invention, a record strip controlling unit embpdying frictional controlling elements is mounted for longitudinal movement substantially in the J strip path and urged in one direction for controlling the strips by means of amanual operating mechanism, whereas movement of the unit in the opposite direction to set it into initial position is effected by forward movement of the strips, themselves. In this manner the stripsare always maintained under tension both"durlng forward andrearward movement of the controlling unit, wrinkles or displacement, or other unsatisfactory conditions of the strips being thus avoided. y

Another feature of improvement resides in the arrangement in a novel and advantageous man-f ner on the reciprocating 'llllit of a plurality of.

frictional'stripengaging elements preferably of filamentary structure such as bundles of bristles ture put specially equipped with the invention;

another improved feature oftineli ofanimal or vegetablefibre stressed into frictional engagement with the respective strips. v Other objects of the invention will be, in part,

pointed out in the following detailed description of an illustrative but preferred embodiment of the invention and willbe, in part, obvious in connection therewith.

The invention accordingly comprises the features of construction, combinations of elements, and arrangement of parts which will be exemplified in and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the claims. 1

For a more complete understanding of the nature and objects of the invention, reference is had to the detailed description below and to the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a partially diagrammatic perspectivei elevation of a writing machine of known struc- Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical longitudinal section through the improved record 7 strip controlling unit; I i

Fig. 3 is a transverse section substantially on the line '3-'-3 of Fig. 2, looking in the direction of the arrows; I

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary top perspective of the improved controlling unit, and

Fig. 5 is a partially diagrammatic vertical sectional' view of the forward strip controlling mechanism.

For the purpose of illustrating the invention and its application, it is shown in the drawings as applied to a typewriting machine of the flat platen type in connection with whiclr it is well adapted for controlling the long continuous traveler record strips in their passage from. the

' strip supply to writing position upon the platen.

This machine includes a supporting frame indicated generally at It! which may be generally of known construction including side frame ,members ll of metallicangle bars or the like, between which is supported the flat plate platen I; upon which the record strips rest during the writing operation. Transverse frame members, i 7 one of which is shown at l3, extend between the side frame members ll, being connected thereto the construction hereinafter set forth to provide a substantially rigid supporting frame;

This frame ismounted in any convenient manner upon a supporting pedestal l4, being thus raised to the .desired'elevation above the floor.

Forwardlyofthe platen l2 .a record strip rev taining or; clamping device I5 is supported ,by

the. framel This may be of any preferred con-f 's'truction; and, as shown, includes a transverse supporting plate lB-attached to the frame nected for adjustment to the guide rod l3 for and carrying one or aplurality of strip engaging pins l1. There are preferably two such pins as shown and each may have a forwardly hooked or overhanging part for retaining engagement with controlling apertures provided in the record strips. A transverse strip clamping or retaining bar I 8 is mounted for rising and falling movement above the supporting plate l6 so as to engage the strips and retain them in position.

Operating mechanism for the retaining bar l8 maybe of known construction and is diagrammatically shown in Fig. 5 as including a rocker arm l9 pivoted to the frame at 20 and having a connection with the clamping bar I8 at 2|. An

operating link 22 is connected to the opposite,

end of the rocker armand at its lower end is connected to an operating pedal 23 supported upon the pedestal l4. Compression spring 24 is connected to normally urge the parts into their initial position in which the bar I8 engages'the record strips to retain them in position. Depression of the pedal against resistance of the spring 24 raises the bar l8 to strip releasing position.

Record strips S of the long continuous traveler type are led from a. supply S into writing position upon the writing platen I 2 over the rearward transverse rod I3 and through the improved controlling unit indicated generally at 25. Adjustable strip guides 26 are shown as con guiding engagement with the strip edges. Each of the record strips S is preferably, as shown, divided into a longitudinal series of form leaves by the transverse weakened severance lines S2 and'each form leaf is provided with controlling apertures S3 preferably positioned adjacent the severance lines and arranged in pairs for cooperation with the controlling pins ll. Any desired number of these record strips may be arranged in relatively superposed relation with each other for manifold inscription, this type of apparatus and the improved strip controlling mechanism being well adapted for the control and regulation of relatively largenumbers of strips for making a large number of copies atone inscribing operation.

. 21 carried by the frame. The desired number of carbon strips may be supported on this spool and the ends thereof at the opposite side of the frame may be held or clamped in position A typeof the platen 12. For mounting the unit in posi-.. tion upon the supporting frame ll), supporting guide brackets 28 may be conveniently attached to the inner surfaces of the frame members I],

as by means of-bolt's orsimilar securing devices.

These brackets are formed with longitudinal grooves 29 forming guideways for slidably receiving the side supporting bars 30 of the controlling unit. A longitudinal supporting slideway is thus provided in which the controlling unit proper is freely longitudinally reciprocable. I

Strip controlling elements are supported between the side bars 35 of the controlling unit including transverse strip supporting and guiding plates 3| connected to the side bars. There are as many of these strip supporting plates as the maximum number of record strips, each record strip passing individually over a plate. Each supporting and guiding plate 3| may be of metal and, as shown, is preferably deflected or bent along a longitudinal line to form an obtuse angle providing two fiat strip engaging surfaces 32 and 33 lying in different planes and over which each strip passes in succession as clearly seen in Fig. 2.

Also extending between the side bars 30 of the unit are connecting and supporting rods 34 anchored to the side bars by any suitable securing means such as screws 34' extending through the side bars into the ends of the rods.. The side bars are thus connected by means of the plates 3| and connecting rods 34 to form a strong and substantially rigid frame which is freely reciprocable in the longitudinal guideway.

Each of the connecting rods 34 also provides a support for the frictional strip engaging and controlling members 35 of which there may be, as shown, a plurality supported by each rod in appropriate apertures or seats formed therein. These strip controlling elements,'as shown, are preferably of fibrous or filamentary structure. A very advantageous structure for each of these elements 35 is to form a group or bundle of animal or vegetable bristles or fibres longitudinally aligned with each other and tightly bound together in the respective seat therefor. in the rod 34. Arranged in this manner the bristles or filamentary bundle arms of each rod 34 are positioned to overlapand contact with the adjacent fiat surface 32 of the stripjsupporting plates 3|. These filamentary bundle arms are preferably tensioned against the respective surfaces 32 by flexing or bending them slightly until the desired frictional tension for the control of the record strips is attained. For acquiring the correct tension for control of the record strips the supporting -rods 34 may be mounted in the side bars 30 for angular adjustment and may be provided with any convenient means for effecting the adjustment; the general arrangement may be substantially as disclosed in the Hagemann Patent No. 1,804,608 issued May 12, 1931. When adjusted into correct position, the rods may be tightly anchored by turning up thesupporting screws. When once adjusted, however, the tension upon the strips by the brushes and consequently the frictional drag exerted thereon are constant, since the tension is not varied during the longitudinal reciprocation of the controlling element.

Although the reciprocating controlling element is mounted for free slidingv movement in the grooves 29, it is preferably limited in its forward movement by stops 36, positioned to engage the ends of the side bars 31!. Also, a one-way operating device is provided for movement of the controlling unit in one direction only. As shown,

.this operating means includes a rocking bar 31 pivotally mounted upon the brackets 28 and having operating arms 38 positioned for contacting engagement with lugs 39 connected to the respective side bars 30. Connected to the rocking bar 31 intermediate its ends, is a crank arm 40' connected to which is an operating link 4l, conn'ected at its lower end to the pedal 23.

' of Fig.2 wherein the pedal is depressedand the aosaasr When the record strips are threaded into position, as shown in Fig. 2, each strip is individually engaged by one of the controlling elements, each of which includes the filamentary frictional device 35. Assuming the parts to be in the position strips have been moved forwardly after completing an inscription, upon release of the pedal the parts" will be returned to normal position by operation of the spring 24. During thismovemerit, the operating arms will be moved rear-' wardly carrying the controlling element with the frictional elements 35 rearwardly in its supporting guideway. The record strips, at this time being held at their forward ends by the pins l1 and the clamping bar, will be individually tensioned, aligned and smoothed into correct writing position by virtue of the frictional engagement of the filamentary controlling elements with each individual record strip. Since the tension of the frictional elements upon the strips is constant after they have once been adjusted, the frictional drag upon each strip imposed by the rearward movement of the controlling element will be constant. Since the frictional elements are not moved or changed from their fixed position' during reciprocation of the controlling unit, it is very easy to maintain the controlling action upon the strips constant under all conditions of operation. Uniformity of control upon the record strips is thus assured. I

After having completed the inscriptions when the record strips have been aligned as just mentioned, the pedal is depressed, whereupon the operating arms move forwardly from engagement with the operating lugs 39 thus freeing the controlling-carriage, or unit, which supports the file.- mentary elements 35, to forward movement. This action, however, does not cause the carriage to-move forwardly but merely frees it to forward movementin its guideway. At the same time, the

clamping bar I8 is raised whereupon the strips may be grasped at their forward ends and moved forwardly from engagement with the pin I1.

As the strips are thus moved forwardly, the controlling unit or carriage is caused to moveforwardly also, by virtue of the frictional engage ment of the filamentary elements 35 upon the individual strips. By means of this action the record strips are maintained continuously under tension and therefore they are maintained free from wrinkles or looseness at all times. This pulling forward of the record strips under the conditions mentioned sets the controlling unit into its initial position again in which it is shown in Fig. 2. Thecycle of operations as described may thenbe repeated. i

Since certain changes may be made in the above construction and different embodiments of the invention could be made without depart-' ing from the scope thereof, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a manifolding' machine, in combination, means for supporting continuous traveler record stripsfor inscription, a strip controlling and tensioning unit mounted for longitudinal reciprocation substantially in the path of the strips, and

including a plurality of filamentary controlling elements in frictional engagement with each individual record'strip, strip holding means posi I 3 tionedforwardly of the machine for restraining the record strips in position, operator actuated operating means torso id controlling unit having only a one-way operative connection therewith for effecting movement thereof by said operating means in one direction only and rearwardly away from said holding means so as to tension said record strips, and said one-way operative con; nection including a reciprocating actuating member positioned for movement into engagement with said'controlling unit for effecting movement thereof in a. rearward direction, and to move out of cooperative engagement with said controlling unit when the latter is in its rearward position so as to leave said unit free for subse-- quent forward movement into its forward position.

means for supporting, continuous traveler record strips for inscription, a strip controlling and tensioning unit'mounted for longitudinal reciprocation'substantially in the path of the strips, and including frictionalstrip engaging elements in individual engagement with each of the record strips, holding means positioned forwardly of the machine for restraining the record strips in position, operator actuated operating means for sa'd controlling unit having only a one-way operative connection therewith for eifecting movement thereof by said operating means in one direction only. and rearwardly away from said holding means so as to tension the record strips, said oneway operative connection including a reciprocating actuating member positioned for movement into engagement with said controlling unitier 2. In a manifolding machine, in combination,

effecting movement thereof in a rearward direc- I tion, and to move out of cooperative engagement .with the controlling unit when the latter is inits rearward positionso as to leave said unit free for subsequent forward movement into its forward position, said frictional strip engaging elements remaining in frictional engagement with the strips and the controlling element normally remaining in its rearward position after said reciprocating actuating member moves out of cooperative engagement therewith as aforesaid, whereby said controlling element may be moved forwardly from 'said'rearwardposition by forward pull upon the record strips.

3. In a manifoldingmachine, in combination,

.means for supporting continuous'tr'aveler record strips for inscriptioma strip controlling and tensioning unit mounted for longitudinal reciprocation substantially in the path of the strips, and

including'frictional strip engaging elements in individual engagement with each of the record strips, holding means positioned forwardly of the machine for retaining the record strips in posi-' tion, operating means for said controlling unit including a pedal and having only a one-way operative connection with the unit for effecting movement thereof only in one direction, means operated by pedal depression for moving said one-way connection out of cooperative relation with said controlling unit, thus freeing the unit.

' means for supporting continuous traveler record ps for inscription,.a"strip controlling and tensioning unit mounted for longitudinal recipr'ocation substantially in the path of the strips, and including frictional devices having transverse strip. guiding bars and filamentary controlling elements mounted for reciprocation with the unit, each strip being individually frictionally engaged between one of said guiding bars and one or more of said filamentary elements, said frictional devices being permanently set so as tomaintain a constant degree of frictional engagement with the strips during complete forward and rearward movements of the unit, strip holding means posi-, tioned forwardly of the machine forrestraining I the strip in position and including a pin for'strip movable to and from operative contact relation with said controlling unit, and a yielding actuating device connected to said unit operating means so as to transmit energy to said unit through said rocker arm whereby to normally urge said unit into its rearward position and to hold it there, but upon actuation of said operating means to free such unit to forward movement which may then ,be effected by pulling upon the frictionally engaged strips.

5.131 a manifolding machine, in combination, means for supporting continuous traveler record strips for inscription, a strip controlling and tensioning unit mounted for longitudinal reciprocation substantially in the path of thestrips, and including frictional strip engagingelements in individual engagement with each of the record strips, holding means positioned forwardly of the machine for restraining the record strips in position, operator actuated operating means for said controlling unithaving only a one-way operative connection therewith ,for effecting longitudinal movement thereof only in one direction and thatrearwardly in strip tensioning direction away from said holding means and being normally incapable of moving said'unit forwardly but freeing it to forward movement which may then be efiected by pulling upon the frictionally engaged strips, an operating lever accessible to the operator included in said operating means, and an actuating device connected to said unit operating means so as to return said operating lever to its initial position and to transmit energy therefrom to said controlling unit through said oneway connection whereby normally to urge said unit into its rearward position and to hold it in its final rearward position;

6; In a manifolding machine, in combination, means for supporting continuous traveler record strips for inscription, a strip controlling and tensioning unit mounted for longitudinal reciprocation substantially in the path of the strips and including frictional strip engaging elements in individual engagement with each of said record 'lever so as to transmit energy through said oneway operating connection to said strip controlling unit so as to effect aforesaid strip tensioning movement thereof and to normally retain said unit in its final rearward operative position.

7. In a manifolding machine, in combination, means for supporting continuous traveler record strips for inscription, a strip controlling and tensioning unit mounted for longitudinal reciprocation substantially in the path of the strips and including frictional strip engaging elements in individual engagement with each of said record strips, holding means positioned'forwardly of the machine for restraining the record strips in position, an operator operated actuating lever having a one-way operating connection with said strip controlling unit. for efiecting longitudinal movement thereof only in one direction and that rearwardly instrip tensioning direction' away from said holding means and being normally incapable of meving said unit forwardly, and an actuating spring operatively connected to said. actuating lever so as to transmit energy through said oneway operating connection to said strip controlling unit so as to eflect aforesaid strip tensioning movement thereof and to normally retain said unit in-its final rearward operative position and means whereby said one-way operating connection frees said strip controlling unit to forward movement 'when said actuating lever is moved in opposition to said spring whereby said controlling unit may then be moved forwardly by pulling upon the frictionally engaged strips.

a FRED PO'I'I'ER, JR. 

